Vermont, Hawaii, North Dakota and Minnesota have now passed
industrial hemp legislation. Illinois has formed a Task Force
to look at hemp's potential, while Virginia, New Mexico, New Hampshire,
Maryland, Iowa, Tennessee and Montana are debating whether they
should legalize marijuana's "misunderstood cousin."
The California Democratic National Party adopted a resolution
supporting hemp, the first time in recent history that a major
political party has embraced hemp.

Alterna Applied Research Laboratories, maker of hemp hair care
products, donated $200,000 to the University of Hawaii to sponsor
America's first hemp test plot in over 50 years. Alterna's hemp
leaf billboards can be seen around the Boston area.

NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR BLASTS THE DRUG WAR

The conservative Republican governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson,
recently answered the drug question honestly by saying that he
had used (and even enjoyed!) marijuana and cocaine. Clean and
sober for 12 years, Johnson now runs 10 miles a day and competes
in triathlons. "Personally, doing drugs is a bad choice.
Don't do drugs," said the governor, a self-made millionaire
who was re-elected last year. "But I think a majority of
people would agree with the following statement: I don't think
people should go to jail for smoking marijuana." Governor
Johnson calls the war on drugs "a miserable failure"
and has enlisted the League of Women Voters to hold town meetings
throughout New Mexico to discuss the drug war and its impact on
society.

Mr. Johnson said he opened the debate because he considers
the drug problem the biggest issue facing America. "Too many
people are being imprisoned, too few addicts are receiving treatment,
and children are being fed too much anti-drug propaganda masquerading
as education," he added. Johnson's honesty contrasts starkly
with the hypocritical mumblings of Texas Governor, and presidential
candidate, George W. Bush.

BUMPER CROP OF CANADIAN HEMP EXPECTED

This past spring, Health Canada announced that they would grant
over 600 licenses to grow industrial hemp in 1999. Acreage is
estimated to be over 20,000 acres, a considerable jump in production
from 1998. Of particular note is the fact that up to 1,500 acres
of certified organic hemp will be grown this year.

FEDERAL JUDGE DISREGARDS PROP 215: SENTENCES PATIENT TO 27
MONTHS

Vietnam veteran B.E. Smith, the first medical marijuana patient
and caregiver to face federal criminal prosecution for growing
medical marijuana after the passage of the California Compassionate
Use Act of 1996, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.
Smith was convicted in May of the manufacture and possession of
marijuana. His trial was marked by a decision by U.S. District
Court Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to ban all defenses relating
to medical marijuana, caregiving, or Proposition 215. Hollywood
hempman Woody Harrelson almost landed in jail for contempt by
asking Judge Burrell "I'm just wondering why you're keeping
the truth from the jury.... How can you sleep at night?"
Check out www.besmith.org for the full story.

HEMP FOODS AND COSMETICS MAY BECOME ILLEGAL!!

If the authors of an unreleased study get their way, the above
headline may mark the latest chapter in the saga of Reefer Madness.
A risk assessment done for Health Canada concludes that hemp products
may not be safe because even small amounts of THC may cause developmental
problems. Those most at risk, the study says, are children exposed
in the womb or through breast milk, or teenagers whose reproductive
systems are developing. However, the study has had no peer review
or scientific assessment to confirm its conclusions.

HEMPBROKERS.COM TAKES A BITE OUT OF HEMP PRICES

In March, HEMPTECH, a California based Industrial Hemp Information
Network, launched HEMPBROKERS.COM with a mission to expand markets
for hemp seed products. Their market research indicated that the
high price for hulled hemp seeds (hemp nut) was prohibitive and
that lower prices would encourage greater use. HEMPBROKERS.COM
set up a refrigerated distribution center in Los Angeles County
and stocked a range of hemp seed products including hemp nut,
hemp oil, hemp meal and roasted hemp seeds.

2 NEW VIDEOS SHOWCASE HEMP

Who says there's nothing good on TV? Two recently released
(and reasonably priced) one hour videos, "Emperor of Hemp"
and "Hemp, Hemp, Hooray" allow you to learn about hemp
in the comfort of your own home.

In "Emperor of Hemp", you'll see how Jack Herer transformed
from a closed minded conservative in the Military Police to a
free thinker who helped launch America's hemp revival. It is only
being sold online, so go to: www.emperorofhemp.com
and order your copy.

You don't have to wait until next year's Boston Phoenix Freedom
Rally special to catch up on the latest hemp news. You can get
all the news you can handle on the net at: MARIJUANANEWS.COM,
MAPINC.ORG, and THEHIA.ORG.
Educate yourself and then educate others!!